“We’re 7-3,” said Brady. “I don’t think we’re where we hope to be at this point, but we’ve got a whole season ahead of us and hopefully we can come out and have a good week of practice and move forward.”

Dating back to 2000, Belichick’s first season as head coach in New England, the Patriots have traditionally moved forward after Thanksgiving, compiling an overall record of 61-17 (.782), approaching the .800 mark with a record of 47-12 (.797) in the regular season and going 14-5 (.737) in the postseason.

Only once during that time have the Patriots played sub-.500 football after Thanksgiving: 2009 when they split their last six regular-season games and were one and done in the postseason, bowing to Baltimore, 33-14, at Gillette Stadium.

Of course, the past two postseasons, the Patriots have gone quietly – one and done.

“You definitely want to be playing your best ball going into the playoffs,” guard Brian Waters said, “but that’s a week-by-week situation so the thing is we have to continue to get better.”

Certainly, the schedule plays to the Patriots’ favor the rest of the way, filled with opponents who currently don’t have a winning record among them – at Philadelphia (4-6) this Sunday and December road games at Washington (3-7) and Denver (5-5), plus December home games with Indianapolis (0-10) and Miami (3-7) and a matchup at home with Buffalo (5-5) on New Year’s Day.

Despite that, Waters contends that “it won’t get any easier.

“No matter what people say about the schedule and different things, believe me you’re going to get everybody’s best shot toward the end here and we’re going against some really talented football teams. We’ve got to get ready for a really good football team next week. No matter what their record is, they’re one of the most talented football teams in the league.”

Cannon’s debut: Marcus Cannon, the fifth-round draft pick out of Texas Christian University who has staged a comeback from non-Hodgkins lymphoma, made his NFL debut on special teams and in a reserve role at right tackle in the fourth quarter.

Page 2 of 2 - “The coaching staff gave me a chance to play,” said Cannon, who was activated off the non-football injury list last Tuesday, “and it was awesome.”

How did the rookie grade out?

“He’s going to be just like everybody else in the fact that we’re all going to see some things we’re going to have to go back and work on,” said Waters, who lined up alongside Cannon at right guard. “Hopefully, as he keeps going, we’ll be able to see what everybody thinks, potential-wise, that he has. He’s got a lot of work to do just like everybody else, but I think he’s a good football player.”

The Patriots offensive line may have taken a hit in the fourth quarter when Matt Light limped off the field with a leg injury. The left tackle was also limping noticeably in the locker room after the game.

Gronk a history major: With touchdown receptions of 52 and 19 yards, Rob Gronkowski reached 20 TDs in 26 career games, the fewest games it’s taken a tight end to reach that number in NFL history.

“When I get the ball, I just don’t want to go down,” the second-year player said. “I want to try to do something with it.”

Ventrone to 53: In the latest move involving Ross Ventrone, the Patriots signed the safety off their practice squad back on to their 53-man roster prior to Monday night’s game.

Ventrone’s promotion came at the expense of offensive lineman Donald Thomas, who was waived by the team.

Cassel to IR: When the NFL schedule was released, Monday night loomed as a return to New England for KC quarterback Matt Cassel.

It marked the end of his season instead.

The ex-Patriot was placed on the injured reserve list with the hand injury he suffered in the Chiefs’ 17-10 loss to Denver on Nov. 13, his roster spot filled by former University of Massachusetts wide receiver Jeremy Horne, whom they promoted off their practice squad.